Residents defend their homes with garden hosepipes and buckets of water as forest fire rages in Madeira Islands 

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A major forest fire in Portugal's Madeira Islands forced the evacuation of more than 400 people and left 174 others seeking medical treatment.

Horrifying pictures showed the wildfire blaze across hundreds of houses, leaving at least 27 homes were left uninhabitable on the island off Africa's northwest coast.

The fire encroaching on the capital Funchal is now believed to be under control and cooler temperatures forecast for Wednesday are expected to help put it out, the head of Madeira's regional government Miguel Albuquerque said.

Most of those needing treatment were said to have inhaled smoke and only one person was severely hurt, with burns.

A major forest fire in Portugal's Madeira Islands forced the evacuation of more than 400 people and left 174 others seeking medical treatment (pictured, the fire in Funchal)

Horrifying pictures showed the wildfire blaze across hundreds of houses, leaving at least 27 homes were left uninhabitable on the island off Africa's northwest coast

The fire encroaching on the capital Funchal is now believed to be under control and cooler temperatures forecast for Wednesday are expected to help put it out

Locals took photographs of the huge clouds of smoke which rose above the Curral dos Romeiros in Funchal, Madeira 

The huge clouds of smoke almost completely covered the capital of the Portugal's Madeira island on Tuesday 

More than 400 people were forced to evacuate their homes and a firefighter was pictured attempting to extinguish the fire

A man carried two gas cylinders as the huge wildfire blaze almost completely covered Curral dos Romeiros, Funchal in Madeira on Tuesday 

Other wildfires have raged for several days on the Portuguese mainland. By Tuesday evening, fire officials said seven major blazes in the countryside were out of control. 

The National Civil Protection service said just over 4,000 firefighters supported by 26 water-dumping planes and 1,262 vehicles were attending 149 blazes of varying sizes across the country.

The month of August, when temperatures are high, winds blow strongly and woodland is parched, is traditionally the peak time for wildfires in Portugal and other southern European countries.

A firefighter attempted to extinguish the wildfire by using hose and several houses were destroyed by the devastating blaze

One firefighter used a powerful hose in a bid to try and prevent the fire from spreading further across the island's capital 

The flames kept growing as the fire spread across the capital - forcing one firefighter to climb on to roofstops to try and stop the blaze

The forest fire raged near hosues and more than 400 people had to be evacuated, while 174 others required medical treatment

A forest fire approaches houses perched on the edge of a forest in Curral dos Romeiros, on the outskirts of Funchal

A brave firefighter climbed on to the top of a roof as the fire kept getting closer to houses in the island's capital

Portuguese officials say fires are often started deliberately and spread quickly because forests are not cleared of dead wood.

Flames licked at homes around Funchal, casting a smoke plume over the downtown, according to cable news channel S.I.C Noticias.

Frantic locals used garden hosepipes and buckets of water to keep the flames at bay as wind blew embers across roads.

Two men sprayed water towards the flames following the huge forest fire on Tuesday which caused smoke plume over the city

Horrifying plumes of smoke rise over towers and hundreds of apartment blocks in Funchal

A man gestures using his right hand as he talks on the phone while the smoke approaches him and other houses in the city 

Fire service officials said Madeira's steep hills and dense woodland made it hard to reach the flames, which were fueled by high winds.

Eight Madeira firefighters required medical treatment after inhaling smoke as high winds fueled the blaze. More than 200 patients were evacuated from a small hospital as a precaution, authorities said.

Some of the worst-hit areas were in northern Portugal, where temperatures have exceeded 30C in recent days. 

The region's pine and eucalyptus forests are tinder-dry after a long spell without significant rain.

In the area around Viseu, 180 miles north of the capital Lisbon, a wildfire forced the closure of a major highway. In nearby Agueda, roads were closed and power lines were cut by wildfires.

In Lisbon, Tuesday was hazy with a smell of smoke caused by wildfires in the surrounding region.

Fire chiefs said some of their firefighters were exhausted after trying to put out blazes non-stop since Saturday, the hottest day of the year so far when temperatures reached 44C.

A police officer escorts an elderly woman who had just been evacuated from her home on the outskirts of Funchal 

The forest fire started close to where tourists walk at Sao Roque in Madeira island

Smoke rises over hundreds of houses from a wildfire over Galeao and Alegria in Sao Roque